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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →To install Elden Ring mods with Mod Engine 2, download its release, extract each mod into its own folder inside Mod Engine 2’s mod directory, add that folder to config_eldenring.toml, then start the game with the Mod Engine 2 launcher. Mod Engine 2 is discontinued, however: its developers direct future work to ME3, so compare the successor’s current instructions before starting a new setup.
Check whether Mod Engine 2 is the right choice
The Mod Engine 2 project README says development is discontinued and future work will be done on ME3. The ME3 documentation identifies ME3 as its successor and documents Windows and Linux/Steam Deck installation, with macOS use through CrossOver.
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That does not establish that every older Mod Engine 2 mod works with ME3. Check the installation notes for the specific mod you want, along with its compatibility information for your game version and operating system. If its instructions explicitly require Mod Engine 2, use the steps below; otherwise, follow the mod author’s current instructions and compare them with ME3’s documentation.
Install an Elden Ring mod with Mod Engine 2
- Download a Mod Engine 2 release. Use the project’s official releases page and extract the release files.
- Read the mod’s installation instructions. Determine whether it contains game asset files, a DLL, or both. Its instructions should also identify any required Mod Engine 2 settings.
- Create a folder for the mod. Inside the extracted Mod Engine 2
moddirectory, make a subfolder named for the mod. For example, you might createmodmy_mod. - Extract the mod files into that folder. Keep the folder structure the mod author provides. The path you add to the configuration must match the location of the extracted files.
- Add the folder to the configuration. Open
config_eldenring.tomlin the Mod Engine 2 directory and add the mod folder to the mod loader’s list. The project README illustrates entries such asmodashesandmodmoveset; use your own folder name instead. - Save the file and launch the game through Mod Engine 2. Use the Mod Engine 2 launcher with the Elden Ring configuration, rather than starting the modded instance directly through Steam.
Where to put Elden Ring mod files
For asset-based mods, put the extracted files in a dedicated subfolder of Mod Engine 2’s supplied mod directory, then list that folder in config_eldenring.toml. For example, if the files are in modmy_mod, the configuration must point to that path. Do not assume that placing files somewhere in the game’s installation directory is equivalent to configuring Mod Engine 2.
#1 Best Overall
- Collaborating with George R.R. Martin to create the ELDEN RING mythos has been a genuinely delightful experience and a source of wonderful inspiration. The team is working hard to ensure that the world of ELDEN RING will be a fascinating place for players to explore, filled with peril and wonder from its furthest reaches to its lowest depths. This is a FromSoftware title through and through, rich in fantasy and RPG action. We sincerely hope you look forward to it.
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The shipped Elden Ring configuration has a default mod path and supports a list of mod directories. Configuration paths are interpreted relative to the launcher’s location; for absolute Windows paths, the TOML string must use escaped backslashes. Consult the configuration comments and the individual mod’s instructions if you need a custom path.
Configure a DLL-based mod
Some mods provide a DLL instead of, or in addition to, asset files. Mod Engine 2’s Elden Ring configuration includes external_dlls for DLL mods. Add a DLL path there only if the mod’s own installation instructions call for it; an asset folder entry does not replace a required DLL entry. Follow the configuration’s comments for path formatting, especially when using an absolute Windows path.
Rank #3
- Elden Ring: Nightreign - Seekers Edition /PS5
Launch modded and unmodded Elden Ring
Mod Engine 2’s launcher starts the game with its library loaded and passes the selected configuration to it. Use that launcher to load the configured modded instance. The project README says launching Elden Ring directly through Steam results in a vanilla instance, which is the appropriate route when you want to play without the Mod Engine 2 configuration.
Use more than one mod without assuming compatibility
You can list multiple mod directories in the configuration, and the configuration supports priority ordering. That does not merge overlapping files. If two mods replace the same file—including regulation.bin—the higher-priority mod supplies that file, while the other mod’s conflicting version is not applied. Check each mod’s compatibility notes before combining them; merely listing both folders does not make them compatible.
Steam Deck and Linux
A Nexus Mods Steam Deck guide, last edited July 25, 2025, preserves community instructions for Mod Engine 2: download and extract it in desktop mode, add modengine2_launcher.exe to Steam, use the launch options -t er -c config_eldenring.toml, and force Proton compatibility. It also describes adding asset files to the mod folder or DLL paths to external_dlls.
These are community instructions, not official Mod Engine 2 documentation. The guide now recommends trying ME3 first; consult the ME3 documentation for current Linux and Steam Deck directions, particularly for a new installation.
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- ELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware Inc. and produced by BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG and FromSoftware's largest game to date, set within a world full of mystery and peril
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What to check if the mod does not load
- Confirm the configured folder matches the extracted location. A typo or an extra nested folder can leave the loader pointing somewhere other than the mod files.
- Check the mod’s file type and instructions. Asset files belong in a configured mod folder; a DLL may also require an entry in
external_dlls. - Start the game through the Mod Engine 2 launcher. Direct Steam launch is a vanilla instance, not the configured modded launch.
- Look for file conflicts. Mods that replace the same files do not automatically combine; configuration priority determines which conflicting file is used.
- Verify game-version compatibility with the mod author’s notes. Mod Engine 2’s setup documentation does not guarantee compatibility with every Elden Ring update or third-party mod.
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